Biography
Richard Howard, Alonzo Taylor (aka Gunby), Sidney Mills, Warner Brittingham
Nearly lynched in December 1924 and March 1925 for crimes committed in Pocomoke City, Maryland.
Richard Howard (alias Howard Ritchie, 'Slim'), Alonzo Taylor (alias Gunby, Gumby), and Sidney Mills were nearly lynched in December 1924 for crimes committed in Worcester County, Maryland. The three had participated in the arson of homes in the county, but also were suspected by townsfolk to have revealed the location of bootlegging stills in the swamps outside of Pocomoke City. Warner Brittingham was nearly lynched in March of 1925 for aiding in the escape of the men who had directed Howard, Taylor, and Mills to set the fire. Little is known about the suspects prior to their crimes, other than that Howard and Mills worked as bootleggers in Pocomoke City, with Howard having previously served jailtime in Baltimore.
On November 6, 1925, the home of Levin Burke was burnt down with gasoline. Burke had been receiving threatening letters in the weeks leading up to the arson, and witnessed three characters fleeing from the scene . Investigation by Worcester County authorities led to the arrest of Richard Howard and Alonzo Taylor. Both confessed to their involvement in the arson, but claimed to be acting under orders from Andrew and Luther Bevans, local gangsters running some of the largest whiskey stills on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Not only did their testimonies implicate the Bevanses, but also Sidney Mills and two other men unknown to them. Howard also held that the Bevanses were responsible for the home arson of Rev. J.R. Bickings earlier in the year. Bickings had been an outspoken opponent of bootleggers in the area, and had resulted in the Bevanses father being fined $1000 for his activities.
After it was discovered Howard and Taylor had been imprisoned, several attempts were made on their lives. Poisoned sandwiches were intercepted being sent into the jail to the latter. After Mills was captured, there was also an attempt to destroy the Snow Hill jail with dynamite. While initial press coverage speculated the motive of a jailbreak, it was later concluded that the thwarted bombing was an attempt to kill the prisoners. Both the sandwiches and bombing attempt were suspected to be the work of the Bevans brothers, who were captured in a police chase in Cape Charles, VA soon after.
Howard, Taylor, and Mills were briefly held in jail in Salisbury for their own protection, before being returned to Snow Hill. After their return, there were further talks around town of blowing up the jail or lynching the prisoners. The trio was then transported back to Salisbury once more. A mob had reportedly been forming in Worcester County with the intention of traveling to Salisbury, storming the jail, and lynching the prisoners. Howard, Taylor, and Mills were once again removed from jail, and taken to an undisclosed location. No mob ended up coming to Salisbury that night. The mob was suspected to have formed on the notion that Howard, Taylor, and Mills had informed the authorities of the Bevanses bootlegging operations in the Pocomoke swamps, which had been raided by federal agents not long after their capture.
While Howard, Taylor, and Mills were eventually transported back to Snow Hill once passions had cooled. The Bevans brothers were transported to Baltimore for a time for their own safety, before being transported back to Worcester County. During another transport to Baltimore in March of 1925, the brothers overpowered their captors, the Snow Hill police chief William Purnell and Worcester County deputy W.W. Davis. The police officers had been shot by the brothers several times. After alerting fellow law enforcement of the brothers escape, a posse of 250 armed men was formed to find the brothers with the help of bloodhounds. Local women also joined in the search. Mr. and Mrs. Everett Bevans, parents of Andrew and Luther, were taken into custody on suspicion of setting a fire near the jail to aid in the escape attempt, but both later released.
The Bevans brothers were eventually caught several days later near Wilmington, Delaware with their African American chauffeur Warner Brittingham and father Everett. The senior Bevans and Brittingham had aided the brothers once they had made it as far as Seaford, DE. The plan had been for Andrew and Luther to escape to South America via ship from Philadelphia, or go into hiding with friends in the city. However, Delaware highway policemen and federal agents had apprehended them before they could make it out of the state. Upon their return to Worcester County, a mob of over 100 people formed to block the vehicle and demand the surrender of the prisoners for lynching. Worcester County Sheriff Wilmer Purnell vowed to defend the prisoners with deadly force if necessary, causing the crowd to disperse. While a mob reformed once the prisoners were confined in jail, the police established a perimeter to prevent anyone from storming the building.
Alonzo Taylor, Howard Ritchie, Sidney Mills, Warner Brittingham, and the Bevanses were tried over the course of April and May. The Bevans brothers were suspected to be planning yet another escape soon after their second capture. The two additional arson suspects Howard implicated were also brought in for trial, being Wilbur Wise and Joseph Cutler. Andrew and Luther Bevans were given the longest sentences for their crimes of assault, being 20 and 14 years in the Maryland Penitentiary, respectively. Andrew then received five years for the arson, with Luther receiving only one. Taylor, Howard, Mills, Wise, and Cutler all only received six months in exchange for their cooperation. Everett Bevans was fined $200 for his role as an accomplice in the escape, while Warner Brittingham was found not guilty and released.
Newspaper Clippings
"Eastern Shore News in Brief," Crisfield Times, November 13, 1924.
"Two Confess Part in Worcester Fire," Baltimore Sun, November 22, 1924.
"Attempt to Dynamite Jail Halted," Midland Journal, November 28, 1924.
"Threatened Jail Prisoners Back," Baltimore Sun, December 4, 1924.
"Men's Arrest Brings Threats Against Jail," Baltimore Sun, December 4, 1924.
"Mob Again Threatens Lynching," Evening Times, December 6, 1924.
"Alleged Pocomoke Firebugs Caught," Crisfield Times, December 6, 1924.
"Eastern Shore News in Brief," Crisfield Times, December 6, 1924.
"Catch Pocomoke Firebugs Tuesday," Marylander and Herald, December 6, 1925.
"Bloodhounds to Aid in Hunt for 2 Men," Baltimore Sun, March 25, 1925.
"Brothers on Way to Jail, Shoot 2 Officers and Flee," Washington Post, March 25, 1925.
"Baltimore Prisoners Shoot Two and Flee," New York Times, March 25, 1925.
"2 Bevans Brothers Elude Bloodhounds," Baltimore Sun, March 26, 1925.
"Women and Dogs Join Search for Brothers," Washington Post, March 26, 1925.
"2 Bevans Boys Threatened by Maryland Mob," Baltimore Sun, March 27, 1925.
"Recaptured Brothers Are Besieged by Mob," Washington Post, March 27, 1925.
"State Road Cops Get Bevans Boys," Crisfield Times, March 28, 1925.
"Three Bevans Men Arrested in Delaware," Marylander and Herald, March 28, 1925.
"Hunt for Worcester County Criminals Ends in Delaware," Worcester Democrat, March 28, 1925.
"Bevans Will Face Several Charges," Baltimore Sun, March 28, 1925.
"Jail Break Tools Found on Bevans," Baltimore Sun, March 29, 1925.
"News Escape Planned by Retaken Prisoners," Washington Post, March 29, 1925.
"Bevans' Will Face Grand Jury Today," Baltimore Sun, March 30, 1925.
"Bevans' Indictment is Expected Today," Baltimore Sun, March 31, 1925.
"Investigates Shooting of Two by Brothers," Washington Post, March 31, 1925.
"Four Indicted in Bevans Case in Worcester," Baltimore Sun, April 2, 1925.
"Indict Four Men in Bevans Case," Crisfield Times, April 4, 1925.
"Bevanses and Father Indicted," Marylander and Herald, April 4, 1925.
"Three Indictments Lodged Against Bevans Brothers," Worcester Democrat, April 4, 1925.
"Change of Trial Venue for Bevans Brothers," Washington Post, April 7, 1925.
"April Term of Court Unusual in its Interests," Worcester Democrat, April 11, 1925.
"Patterson to Stay Out of Bevans Case," Baltimore Sun, April 11, 1925.
"Long Sentences Given Two Bevans Brothers," Washington Post, April 12, 1925.
"Bevans Boys Given Long Terms," Midland Journal, April 17, 1925.
"Bevans Boys Sentenced to Long Prison Terms," Worcester Democrat, April 18, 1925.
"Bevanses in Court on Arson Charge," Baltimore Sun, May 5, 1925.
"Bevans Brothers Face Trial on Arson Charge," Washington Post, May 5, 1925.
"Bevans Jury Disagrees; New Trial is Ordered," Baltimore Sun, May 6, 1925.
"Church Fire Inquiry Reopened by Court," Washington Post, May 6, 1925.
"Bevans Brothers Plead Guilty And Are Sentenced," Baltimore Sun, May 7, 1925.
"New Trial is Ordered for Bevans Brothers," Washington Post, May 7, 1925.
"Bevans Boys Guilty," Crisfield Times, May 9, 1925.
"Bevans Boys Change Plea to 'Guilty'," Marylander and Herald, May 9, 1925.
"Bevans Brothers Plead Guilty in Cambridge Court," Worcester Democrat, May 9, 1925.
